What type of animal does veal come from

Click here for more information about veal. Tip: look at our frequently asked questions , maybe we can help you to put you on the way? Have a look at our brochure Have a look at our flyer. In addition, he tries to make his company more and more sustainable. View above our corporate film. View above the Better Life movie in Dutch. Experience for yourself how much space and peace there is on a Peter's Farm. The website of Peter's Farm uses cookies Hide this message. In the EU - but not the UK - veal calves are usually kept in closed barns with slatted floors, without bedding and with little or no fibre in their diet.

Why is veal white? White veal is not produced in the UK. White veal comes from calves, on the continent, which were slaughtered before eight months of age, usually between 20 and 24 weeks of age. During this time their diets consist of fortified milk and solids, with very little fibre and low in iron. Does veal see daylight?

In the UK, calves are often kept indoors but in open-sided barns. These barns are well lit by natural daylight and the open sides allow the circulation of fresh air and permit the animals to look outside. Are calves still exported to the continent for veal? Yes, male dairy calves can legally be transported as young as 14 days old.

Research has shown that calves under four weeks old struggle to adapt to the live transport process and can suffer higher levels of illness and death following transport. Is veal raised humanely? Although veal crates have been banned in the EU, many calves on the continent are still kept in barren houses with slatted floors and no straw bedding.

Not giving calves straw to lie on means they have nowhere comfortable to sleep and rest. Having no fibre in their diet can stop their digestive system from developing normally - good quality fibre such as clean barley straw is essential.

Calves can be given a low iron milky diet with insufficient fibre. The biggest EU producers are France over 1. Although the veal crate was banned across the EU in January , Compassion is concerned about the welfare issues surrounding standard EU veal production. When produced under the best conditions, veal does not need to be a cruel meal and there are several higher welfare alternatives.

Calves reared to UK standard are provided with bedding and younger calves receive double the amount of fibrous food compared to continental veal calves. Older UK calves have greater space allowance than stipulated in EU law. Their diet must provide a minimum amount of iron equal to the EU minimum. Unfortunately, very few calves are reared for veal in Great Britain due to low demand for this meat.

Although many are reared for beef, a large number are killed shortly after birth or may be exported to the continent.

Due to co-operation between Compassion in World Farming, the RSPCA and the industry through the Calf Stakeholder Forum, more male dairy calves are now reared humanely for beef and the number of calves being shot at birth has greatly decreased. There is more work to do — tens of thousands are still shot every year around 95, in and thousands are exported to the continent over 19, in , mostly from Northern Ireland.

Although the veal crate was banned across the EU in January , Compassion has welfare concerns about standard EU veal production. In intensive veal farms, all three of these are compromised by periods of confinement in veal crates or barren environments , malnutrition and distress and long-term social development problems caused by early separation from their mothers.

Young calves are also often subjected to long distance journeys — which can last days — for fattening and slaughter. Naturally, calves suckle their mothers for up to a year, and maintain a strong bond with her for several years.

However in commercial dairy farming, nearly all calves are taken away from their mother within hours of birth. This diet is designed to keep their flesh pale in colour. These calves are reared in groups from when they are around eight weeks old. The size of the groups range from a few calves up to 80, and minimum space allowances per calf are laid down by law.

However, calves need enough space to lie down and stand up, groom themselves, move around, explore and interact socially. The calves are typically housed on wooden slats and there is no requirement for bedding material after the first two weeks.

Fully slatted floors can make standing and lying down extremely uncomfortable for calves. They can cause foot injuries and lameness. Again, evidence shows that the EU minimum iron requirement may be too low for full health and robustness.

Anaemia damages the immune system and causes calves to be weak, lethargic and probably feel unwell.